When Are Applications For NSFAS 2025 Opening

Prospective applicants are looking forward to the start of NSFAS applications as the 2025 academic year approaches, suggesting the chance to obtain vital funding for their academic pursuits. Dr Blade Nzimande, Minister of Higher Education and Training, has urged students who do not have financial support to complete their studies and all participants who want to attend the post-school institution to apply for funding for 2025.

As the bursary application period for the 2025 academic year officially opened, Nzimande made the call on behalf of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). Applications for bursaries were accepted starting on November 21st, 2024, and must be submitted by January 31st, 2025.

Application opening and closing date for NSFAS 2026

Prospective students can apply for financial aid during the NSFAS funding application season, which usually opens within a certain duration. The exact dates for the 2025-2026 academic year begin on 21st November 2024 and close on 31st January 2025. Therefore eligible qualified students are encouraged to apply before the closing date of the application.

What does the bursary cover?

NSFAS will cover your costs for the following:

Accommodation
Living allowance
Learning material allowance
Personal care allowance

UNISA students will receive funding for:

Tuition
Books (subject to the number of modules registered)
Personal care allowance

Eligible students with a disability will receive funding for:

Assistive Devices
Meals
Tuition
Transport
Tuition
Human Support
Accommodation

NSFAS Documents Required for 2025 Applications

You will need the following support for your NSFAS online application 2025:

You must provide a copy of your student ID / Birth certificate
A copy of the parent/s or guardian/spouse’s ID
A Smart card: both sides of the card required
Proof of income (where applicable)
Persons living with disability (Disability Annexure A form)
A vulnerable child must provide a completed Vulnerable Child Declaration form completed by a social worker
An applicant who has indicated that he/she has no family member details and or abridged birth certificate must complete the Declaration: Non-SASSA

Other documents that may be required, if applicable

Retrenchment letter
Death certificate/s
Divorce Decree
Proof of legal guardianship
Marriage certificate
other documents may be required for appeal purposes,….eg retrenchment letter

Who is Eligible For Nsfas 2025-2026

If you are a citizen of South Africa, intend to enrol in school in 2025, or are enrolled in a public university or TVET college and match the following criteria, you are eligible for an NSFAS bursary:

SASSA grant recipients
South African citizens or permanent residents
Candidates whose annual gross household income combined is not greater than R350 000
individuals with disabilities whose annual gross family income is not greater than R600,000.
Both a cell phone number and email address are required.

Who is not qualified to apply for NSFAS 2025

Students who have previously applied for and been awarded financing, are not yet finished with their current degree and have no intention of switching from one industry to another (TVET College to University or vice versa).
If they pass all of their modules and fulfil the academic standards, they will get automatic funding for the remainder of their study.

NSFAS bursary Academic Criteria

For NSFAS money to study at a TVET college, you must have completed Grades 9 through 12, and for funding to study at a university or TVET college, you must have completed Grade 12. Before receiving any support from NSFAS if your application is accepted, you must fulfill the university’s or TVET college’s academic admission standards.

Application Procedure for NSFAS 2025

Follow the process below to apply online for the NSFAS bursaries for 2025-2026:

Create a profile: Use this link to register for a myNSFAS account: https://my.nsfas.org.za/ or get the NSFAS App from the App Store or Google Play. Your username will be your ID number.
Apply now: To amend your personal information and upload the supporting documents for your application, click the “Apply” option.
Complete: Submit your application

For details, go to https://www.nsfas.org.za

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